TURKISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES VOW TO BOOST CLOSER COOPERATION
People’s Daily, China
Nov 18 2006
Four Turkish-speaking countries concluded its 8th summit meeting in
Turkey’s southern Mediterranean city Antalya on Friday, vowing to
boost a closer cooperation among them.
Presidents of the four countries, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan
and Kyrgyzstan, attended the summit and signed a final statement on
closer cooperation.
“Turkish-speaking countries should work hard to boost cooperation
in the areas of economy, industry, agriculture, transportation,
communication and tourism,” the statement said.
It added that the countries should fully support activities and
initiatives that aimed to strengthen historic and cultural ties
among themselves.
“Improvement in international transportation between Turkey and
Turkish-speaking countries will create new opportunities and contribute
to economy of regional countries,” the statement noted.
Highlighting the importance of Turkey’s accession process with the
European Union (EU), the statement stressed that it would contribute
to political, economic and social development in the region and
strengthen ties between the region and the EU.
On the Upper Karabakh issue, the statement indicated that the issue,
which is an obstruction to southern Caucasus’ stability and regional
cooperation, should be solved through peaceful means in conformity
with Azerbaijan’s independence and its territorial integrity.
The statement also underlined the importance of joint fight against
terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as
drug, weapon and human smuggling and other organized crimes.
A global response must be given to the fight against terrorism which
has become a global threat, it said, adding that any kind of terrorism
could not be justified.
The summit, initiated in 1992, focuses on consolidating friendly
relations and cooperation among participating countries, and
strengthening peace and stability in the region.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE VICTORY OF DEMOCRATS WILL ENABLE TO PROMOTE ARMENIAN ISSUES
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
The victory of the Democrats in the US Congressional elections will
simplify the accomplishment of Armenian Issues, Chairman of the
National Assembly of Armenia, Vice-President of the Republican Party
Tigran Torosyan told ArmInfo correspondent.
In general, the shift of balance of power in the US Congress will
not impact the spectrum of Armenian-American relations, he mentioned.
To note, leader of the Democratic Party leader, who will most probably
become House Speaker Nanci Palosi stands for the Armenian Genocide
recognition.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RELIGIONS MUST BECOME THE MORAL VOICE OF SOCIETY, HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CONSIDERS
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
“The world is on the edge of moral collapse. If things go unchanged,
moral collapse will bring about economic, political and ecological
collapse. Religion is a source of moral values. By becoming the moral
voice of the world, religions may work together to save humanity
from new crises”, said His Holiness in his closing remarks to the
inter-religious conference, taking place at the Armenian Catholicosate
of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon.
The conference, which was the first of its kind and was initiated by
His Holiness Aram I, brought together representatives of religions
of the Middle East and Asia in order to learn more about each other.
“The knowledge gained through dialogue about each other will generate
mutual understanding and respect and will pave the way towards mutual
trust”, said Aram I and reminded that “we have our differences and we
must remain faithful to our roots, identities, values and traditions;
at the same time, we must accept each other the way we are”.
Considering their common values a solid basis for the religions to
act together, Aram I emphasized particularly the “bridge-building”
role of religions in a world characterized by “extremes, tensions and
polarizations”. He said that “because political consensus is always
provisional, societies need bridges that are sustained by faith,
spirituality and moral values”.
Referring to the theme of the conference, “Recommitment to
Spirituality”, His Holiness warned of “false spiritualities, which
are establishing their dominance in our societies”, and called for a
spirituality “that combats the evil forces and empowers human beings
by the presence of Transcendence.”

ARMENIA BEATS IODINE DEFICIENCY
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
A coalition of four organizations working together to address
iodine deficiency disorders throughout the world, has recognized
the elimination of iodine deficiency in Armenia through universal
salt iodization.
In a ceremony held today to mark this achievement, the UNICEF
Representative in Armenia, Sheldon Yett, presented a plaque to the
Ministry of Health of Armenia, which recognizes the Government
of Armenia’s success in its long standing campaign to eliminate
iodine deficiency disorders as a public health problem. The plaque
was presented on behalf of the Network for Sustained Elimination of
Iodine Deficiency, the International Council for Control of Iodine
Deficiency Disorders, UNICEF and the World Health Organization.
“Elimination of iodine deficiency in Armenia is a remarkable
achievement and represents a significant contribution to the protection
and improvement of health and well-being of children in this country,”
the UNICEF Representative in Armenia emphasized. He added that “some
20 million children in developing countries are affected by iodine
deficiency each year and every single case can be prevented with the
use of iodized salt.”
Iodine deficiency is the world’s leading cause of preventable
mental retardation among children. While the worst cases of iodine
deficiency can cause severe mental retardation, such as cretinism,
even mild iodine deficiency can result in a significant loss in
learning ability. Other effects include increased risk of stillbirth,
miscarriage, and goiter for women and learning difficulties for
children. Salt iodization is the most effective and sustainable way
to prevent iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) because salt is widely
consumed and iodization is safe and inexpensive. Eliminating IDD
through the promotion of the use of iodized salt is a key component
of UNICEF’s mission to ensure that every child has the opportunity
to survive, develop and achieve his/her developmental potential.
In 1995, the Ministry of Health jointly with UNICEF, conducted a
study which indicated that over 50% of pregnant women were suffering
from iodine deficiency. Since 1997 UNICEF, the Ministry of Health,
and the Avan Salt Factory have been working together to eliminate
iodine deficiency in Armenia through universal salt iodization. The
efforts were funded in part through contributions from the US Agency
for International Development (USAID).
“Ministry of Health attaches great importance to the issue of iodine
deficiency in Armenia and is taking steps to ensure the sustainability
of the Universal Salt Iodization in Armenia,” Minister of Health
Norayr Davidyan said.
A nationally representative survey of school children carried out last
year by UNICEF, the Ministry of Health and the International Council
for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD) found that
the proportion of households consuming adequately iodized salt has
increased to 97% from 70% in 1998. The 2005 survey also found that
urinary concentrations of iodine were sufficiently high.
“The achievement of universal salt iodization means that 40,000
children born in Armenia each year are now being protected from the
consequences of iodine deficiency,” the UNICEF Representative said.
As the survey noted, strengthened monitoring and regulatory systems are
now required to sustain this achievement,” the Representative added.

WILL THEY DESTROY THE HOUSE OF THE PM?
A1+
[08:31 pm] 15 November, 2006
Tomorrow the residents of the alienation zones of the capital and
the veterans of the Artsakh war will organize a protest action
opposite the Government building expressing disobedience to the
RA authorities. Their initiative has lasted for several days: they
have been complaining against the adoption of the RA draft Law on
“Alienation of property for state and public needs” for the last
three days.
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan thinks that there is not civic
disobedience, “The discontent of even 100 people does not mean that
they express the opinion of the majority. There always exist people
who are displeased with this or that law. Who says that the President
was elected with 100% votes? There were people who were against it. It
is always so”.
Answering the questions of the journalists, the Prime Minister claimed
that he is ready to give his property for the sake of state needs.
Andranik Margaryan also claimed that “the elections must not cast a
shadow on the electoral process, the newly created National Assembly
must enjoy the trust of the people, and only after that the Government
must be formed”.

BEFRIENDING HIV CARRIERS IS NOT DANGEROUS
A1+
[07:51 pm] 15 November, 2006
“Due to the lack of information HIV/AIDS has become the plague of
not only the 20th but also the 21st century”, said Elena Strizhak,
expert of the “HIV carriers network in Ukraine” who has arrived in
Armenia for cooperation and exchange of experience.
Elena Strizhak herself has been a HIV carrier for the last six
years. In Ukraine she fights vigorously against discrimination against
virus carriers.
She does not hide the fact that she is a virus carrier and speaks about
it quite calmly, saying that it is a form of work for her. According
to her, there is no difference in the attitude towards the carriers
in Armenia and in Ukraine.
“All those people have the same feelings in all the parts of the
world. I have passed through that myself.
But those who were to support me were next to me. As for those who
upon learning the news left me, I’m not very much sorry for that. Now
I do everything in order to support the virus carriers who have the
same problem”, said Elena Strizhak.
According to her, the reason that HIV carriers become social outcast
is the low level of public awareness.
In Ukraine Elena Strizhak’s organization has created information
centers in all the cities and regions in order to raise public
awareness about the ways of catching AIDS; for example, making friends
with a HIV carrier is not dangerous for catching the virus.
In Armenia NGO “Real world, real people” tries to soothe the public
discrimination against HIV carriers with the help of the UNDP.
The NGO has realized a number of programs against discrimination. They
have made posters with the photos of Armenian singers. The posters
contain a warning to be careful not to get infected and a message to
be tolerant towards those who have done it.
By the way, according to 2006 October statistics, there are 443 HIV
carriers in Armenia. The majority has got infected via drug usage.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PHONETHON LAUNCHED
A1+
[08:15 pm] 15 November, 2006
Today the annual phonethon of pan-Armenian fund “Armenia” was
launched. The workers of the fund will phone about 1300 small,
medium and large companies in Armenia until November 17 and call
on them to have their donation to the program “Revival of Artsakh”
initiated by the fund. This year the gathered money will be used for
the realization of the second phase of the program – the development
of the Hadrout region of Artsakh.
On the eve of the telethon the Fund already gets donations from
individuals, organizations, banks, educational institutions and other
structures. The residents of not only the capital but also the regions
make donations.
Tomorrow the telethon will start in France. The main telethon which
will be broadcast live for all the Armenians throughout the world
will take place on November 23 in Los Angeles.

ENVIRONMENT ACTIVISTS CONCERNED WITH SEVAN ECOLOGY
Panorama.am
15:02 15/11/06
The Union of Armenian Writers, greens unions and other environment
related organizations are concerned with the intention of the
government to stop efforts which aim to raise the level of water
in Sevan.
Hakob Manaseryan, chairman of Greens Union, said the government has
prepared a draft planning to lower the level of wave up to 1.5 meters
instead of 5. The activists are going to come up with a suggestion
to reconsider the decision.

ORINATS YERKIR PROPOSES HIGHER COMPENSATION FOR SAVING BANK DEPOSITS
Panorama.am
15:04 15/11/06
Orinats Yerkir party proposes to double the amount of money which is
going to be compensated against deposits at the Saving Bank in 2007,
Heghine Bisharyan, faction secretary, told a parliament hearing on
budget today. She said 1 billion drams is not a big sum and it could
be doubled.
Bisharyan pointed out that despite of rising salaries of teachers they
still get some 16,000 drams. She also underscored higher salaries for
scientists. Bisharyan attached importance to health of women saying
many women get sick at younger age.

INDEPENDENT DEPUTY AGAINST RISE OF SALARY OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR 40%
Panorama.am
15:07 15/11/06
Hmaiak Hovanisyan, an independent deputy of the National Assembly,
spoke against the rise of salary of top public employees for
40%. Hovanisyan said the authorities in power pursue a policy
of keeping socially vulnerable population dependant on election
bribes. He said cases of “buying” votes for 3-5 thousand drams are
not singular. Hovanisyan suggested cutting short social polarization
which is evident in the budget.